In today’s information society, the way we work is continuously evolving. Unlike in the past, it is now essential to switch job functions and collaborate with people from diverse fields to achieve common goals. In this context, we believe young children need a space that embraces diversity and encourages communication with friends from different backgrounds.
One key skill required in the information society is spatial awareness. Research shows that in complex environments such as forests and mountains, it is difficult to fully grasp the entire space through vision alone. In such settings, both the body and brain are trained simultaneously.
Spaces can influence people profoundly. When a space affirms diversity, its occupants tend to embrace diversity as well. Creating an environment that encourages dynamic movement and fluid interactions allows individuals to naturally expand their development potential.
At this kindergarten, our goal is to provide children with opportunities to build the experiences and mindset essential for thriving in the information society.
1. Shared Spaces: Finding Common Ground While Embracing Differences
This independent polygonal space allows children to engage in a variety of activities. In the information society, people with diverse talents come together to brainstorm. It’s not about everyone doing the same thing, but about finding common ground while respecting differences.
The polygonal shape lacks a clear center and can be divided into multiple functional zones, enabling children to pursue different activities within the same space.
2. Spaces with Blurred Boundaries
The project features two gardens: an outer garden completely separate from the building, and an inner garden that is half indoor and half outdoor. When children play in the outer garden, the boundary between the inner and outer gardens becomes indistinct.
In the inner garden, indoor and outdoor spaces seem to merge. Connected to the indoor rooms, the inner garden offers a broad view of the interior.
Children freely move between the two gardens, engaging in various activities and mingling across age groups. The inner garden thus becomes a space where indoor and outdoor boundaries are fluid and inviting.
3. Encouraging Thinking Through Movement
The playground features uneven surfaces and soft mesh, with few flat areas, creating a three-dimensional space that requires coordinated full-body movement.
Spatial awareness is vital in the information society and is best developed through hands-on and cognitive activities. While cities are filled with flat roads, introducing more three-dimensional spaces in kindergartens helps cultivate children’s spatial awareness, which is often lacking in urban environments.
4. An Environment That Encourages Creating Your Own Rules
The park’s natural elements consist only of mountains, sand, and water. There is no fixed pairing or prearranged activities, allowing children to invent their own game rules in this simple environment.
5. Embracing Individuality
The color schemes inside the building are intentionally uncoordinated. This design choice fosters a space that embraces different personalities, helping children understand that being unique is a positive trait.
6. Leaving a Lasting Impression on Children
We designed a dedicated area for children to leave their marks while playing. At the kindergarten entrance, a sandpit records the traces of children’s play and transformation. As more children join, the sandpit evolves, filling up with their “creative works” by the end of the day.
7. Overall Kindergarten Design
Situated in a typical new residential area, this kindergarten coordinates with surrounding buildings that share similar design and construction timelines. To harmonize with the neighborhood, we adopted a modern sloped roof with windows proportionate to nearby structures.
The roof is composed of multiple smaller roofs, symbolizing multi-person negotiation and collective thinking. The structural design reflects the concept of brainstorming. Unique exterior windows protrude outward, adding an element of intrigue to the façade. Skylights on the roof allow abundant natural light to fill the interior.
Technical Drawings
△ One-layer model
△ First floor plan
△ Second floor plan
△ Roof plan
△ Elevation drawing
△ Elevation drawing
△ Section diagram
Project Information
Architectural Design: teamLab Architects
Area: 497 m²
Project Year: 2021
Photographer: Vincent Hecht
Client: KidsLabo Incorporated
City: Nagareyama
Country: Japan
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